Topband: FCP Antenna

[Chortek, Robert L.]

Dear Fellow Topband Enthusiasts:


I'm hoping to get a little help here:


Q: Will I see noticeable improvement if I change my radial system to a FCP and/or raise the base of my elevated vertical?


Background: I have a 60 foot tall vertical I use on 80 meters, which I also base load for 160. The antenna is fed at the base about 3 feet off the ground. The radial system consists of 12 gull wing radials (8 for 160 and 4 four 80) which slope up to the roof about 10 feet or so high, then make a 90 degree turn and then run roughly parallel to one another but fan out somewhat (6 and 6) The radials essentially form a U shape (base of the U slopes up to the roof and then the legs of the U are on the roof because that is what my lot allows.


1. If I were to replace the radials with a FCP system (and raising the base of the antenna from 3 feet to 8 feet), would my transmitted signal improve to the point where anyone would notice?


2. If I just raised the base of the antenna from 3 feet to 8 feet and kept the existing radial system would my transmitted signal improve to the point where anyone would notice?


As a frame of reference, I have worked 144 countries on 160 from a 1/4 acre city lot in San Jose, CA. and worked nearly 200 on 80, so I am having some success. Just trying to figure out what I could do better. Please, let's not talk about top loading vs. base loading because that is not my question (I understand the benefits of top loading vs. base or center loading, but have my reasons for using base loading - for now) .


Any help would be greatly appreciated.


73,


Bob/AA6VB
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[Art Snapper]

It depends on how good your ground plane is.

W8JI has an interesting page about FCP vs radials.
http://www.w8ji.com/fcp_folded_counterpoise_system.htm

Perhaps you could measure the current on your existing radial system for
additional insight.

Art NK8X
ᐧ

On Thu, Dec 3, 2015 at 2:52 PM, Chortek, Robert L. <

Post by Chortek, Robert L.
Q: Will I see noticeable improvement if I change my radial system to a
FCP and/or raise the base of my elevated vertical?
Background: I have a 60 foot tall vertical I use on 80 meters, which I
also base load for 160. The antenna is fed at the base about 3 feet off
the ground. The radial system consists of 12 gull wing radials (8 for 160
and 4 four 80) which slope up to the roof about 10 feet or so high, then
make a 90 degree turn and then run roughly parallel to one another but fan
out somewhat (6 and 6) The radials essentially form a U shape (base of the
U slopes up to the roof and then the legs of the U are on the roof because
that is what my lot allows.
1. If I were to replace the radials with a FCP system (and raising the
base of the antenna from 3 feet to 8 feet), would my transmitted signal
improve to the point where anyone would notice?
2. If I just raised the base of the antenna from 3 feet to 8 feet and
kept the existing radial system would my transmitted signal improve to the
point where anyone would notice?
As a frame of reference, I have worked 144 countries on 160 from a 1/4
acre city lot in San Jose, CA. and worked nearly 200 on 80, so I am having
some success. Just trying to figure out what I could do better. Please,
let's not talk about top loading vs. base loading because that is not my
question (I understand the benefits of top loading vs. base or center
loading, but have my reasons for using base loading - for now) .
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
73,
Bob/AA6VB
_________________
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

_________________
Topband Reflector Archi

[Jim Brown]

Post by Chortek, Robert L.
Will I see noticeable improvement if I change my radial system to a FCP and/or raise the base of my elevated vertical?

Bob,

Increasing the height of elevated radials on 160M from about 3 ft to
about 16 ft is probably good for a few dB. It is a good thing to do.
Increasing the number of radials is also a good thing. Don't expect huge
differences, but serious topband operators will attest that as little as
2dB can make the difference between a QSO and QRZ?

The definitive work on elevated radial systems has been done and
published by Rudy Severns, N6LF. It's on his website, and is well worthy
of study.

BTW -- I'm in the Santa Cruz Mountains, only about 35 miles S of you,
and since moving here in 2006, have 135 confirmed on topband with
antennas that are probably a lot better than yours. With 144 confirmed
from a small city lot, you're doing quite well indeed!

73, Jim K9YC
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[Chortek, Robert L.]

Thanks to all the helpful replies, but on and off list!

73,

Bob AA6VB

Sent from my iPhone

Post by Chortek, Robert L.
Q: Will I see noticeable improvement if I change my radial system to a FCP and/or raise the base of my elevated vertical?
Background: I have a 60 foot tall vertical I use on 80 meters, which I also base load for 160. The antenna is fed at the base about 3 feet off the ground. The radial system consists of 12 gull wing radials (8 for 160 and 4 four 80) which slope up to the roof about 10 feet or so high, then make a 90 degree turn and then run roughly parallel to one another but fan out somewhat (6 and 6) The radials essentially form a U shape (base of the U slopes up to the roof and then the legs of the U are on the roof because that is what my lot allows.
1. If I were to replace the radials with a FCP system (and raising the base of the antenna from 3 feet to 8 feet), would my transmitted signal improve to the point where anyone would notice?
2. If I just raised the base of the antenna from 3 feet to 8 feet and kept the existing radial system would my transmitted signal improve to the point where anyone would notice?
As a frame of reference, I have worked 144 countries on 160 from a 1/4 acre city lot in San Jose, CA. and worked nearly 200 on 80, so I am having some success. Just trying to figure out what I could do better. Please, let's not talk about top loading vs. base loading because that is not my question (I understand the benefits of top loading vs. base or center loading, but have my reasons for using base loading - for now) .
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
73,
Bob/AA6VB
_________________
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

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[Alex]

Hi Bob,

Definitely read Tom's web page that Art pointed to. It will give you
some idea what to expect from the FCP compared to other radial systems.
From your description of your current radial system and your successes,
and from what I read on Tom's page, I would think it'd be better to not
replace what you currently have with an FCP.

Incidentally, has anyone ever noticed how similar the FCP is to the
inductively loaded counterpoise as described by Les Moxon, G6XN, in his
book "HF Antennas for All Locations"? You can find a description and an
image of it on pages 193 and 194 of the 1993/1995 edition of the book,
or on pages 164 and 165 of the original 1982 edition.

73,
--Alex KR1ST

Post by Chortek, Robert L.
Q: Will I see noticeable improvement if I change my radial system to
a FCP and/or raise the base of my elevated vertical?

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